Utah Supreme Court moves hearing for polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs to larger venue

Utah Supreme Court moves sect leader’s hearing

SALT LAKE CITY — A hearing on an appeal of the 2007 criminal conviction of polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs has been moved to a larger venue to make room for his family and members of his church.

Utah State Courts spokeswoman Nancy Volmer says the Utah Supreme Court will hear arguments at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3 at Salt Lake City’s Scott M. Matheson Courthouse.

The hearing originally was scheduled for Nov. 4 at the Brigham Young University law school, but the courthouse has more seating. Defense attorneys have asked for 75 seats for Jeffs’ family and members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Jeffs was convicted of two counts of first-degree felony rape as an accomplice, stemming from his role in the 2001 marriage of a 14-year-old follower.

Jeffs was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life.